Everything posted by Charlie T Waite

DATE:
May 9, 2020
TO:
USF & NRA Members and Friends
FROM:
Marion P. Hammer
USF Executive Director
NRA Past President
Gun group fires lawsuit at Nikki Fried over concealed permits
Agriculture Commissioner called Young Americans for Liberty ‘obscure right-wing fringe’
By Jacob Ogles
Florida Politics
May 8, 2020
The gun rights group Young Americans for Liberty sued Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried claiming she’s depriving Floridians’ rights. The suit aims to lift a suspension of online concealed weapons permit applications.
“Nikki Fried thinks that your right to self-defense is negotiable. She’s wrong,” said Cliff Maloney, YAL President. “This is a blatant disregard for the rule of law, and I will not idly sit by while Nikki Fried uses this crisis to enact her gun-grabbing agenda. I encourage all Americans to join this fight for our rights. We either believe in liberty in times of crisis or we do not believe in liberty at all.”
Fried has defended her move vigorously, repeatedly noting permits continue to be processed but the online mechanism cannot be used right now because of issues such as fingerprint collection during a pandemic.
“Commissioner Fried has not restricted processing of concealed weapons license applications; on the contrary, our department has processed more than 54,000 concealed weapons license applications since March 1, with an average review time of just 1 to 2 days,” said Franco Ripple, Fried’s Communications Director... READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE:
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/331615-gun-group-fires-lawsuit-at-nikki-fried-over-concealed-permits
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Florida slapped with lawsuit over cancellation of online gun permit applications
By Ryan Lovelace
Washington Times
May 8, 2020
Young Americans for Liberty president Cliff Maloney has sued a Florida official for stymying his attempt to obtain a firearm amid social distancing restrictions in response to coronavirus.
Mr. Maloney filed a lawsuit on Friday against Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried stemming from her decision to suspend online applications for concealed weapons licenses amid the coronavirus outbreak. Open carry of firearms in the Sunshine State is only permissible in specific instances, such as for hunting and target shooting.
“Nikki Fried thinks that your right to self-defense is negotiable. She’s wrong,” said Mr. Maloney in a statement. “This is a blatant disregard for the rule of law, and I will not idly sit by while Nikki Fried uses this crisis to enact her gun-grabbing agenda. I encourage all Americans to join this fight for our rights. We either believe in liberty in times of crisis or we do not believe in liberty at all.”
Ms. Fried did not respond to request for comment and her office was closed on Friday amid coronavirus restrictions on her workplace.
Florida Consumers First, a political committee registered in Florida, distributed an email in Ms. Fried’s name to supporters this week claiming gun rights supporters were coming after her. Ms. Fried appears to reference Mr. Maloney’s earlier threat of a lawsuit against her in the mailer, which Mr. Maloney included in his lawsuit... READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/8/florida-slapped-lawsuit-over-cancellation-online-g/
READ THE LAWSUIT COMPLAINT HERE:
https://yaliberty.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Cliff-Maloney-vs.Nikki-Fried.pdf

Next Wednesday at 1:00pm, the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled to hear four pro-gun bills that will benefit law-abiding gun owners in the Sportsman’s Paradise. Please contact members of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee and ask them to support these pro-2A bills:
House Bill 746 allows those who lawfully possess a firearm to carry concealed for self-defense during a mandatory evacuation under a declared state of emergency or disaster.
House Bill 781 establishes that firearms and ammunition manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, suppliers, and retailers are “Essential Businesses” that shall not be prohibited from conducting business during a declared disaster or emergency. HB 781 further prevents law-abiding gun owners’ rights from being infringed during proclaimed curfews.
House Bill 140 prevents local authorities and municipalities from imposing restrictions to prohibit the possession of a firearm. Preemption legislation is designed to stop municipalities from creating a patchwork of different laws that turn a law-abiding citizen into a criminal for simply crossing a jurisdictional line.
House Bill 334 authorizes a concealed handgun permit holder to carry a concealed handgun in a church, synagogue, mosque, or other similar place of worship.
Again, please contact members of the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee and ask them to support the above pro-2A bills.

Last week, NRA joined the Gun Owners’ Action League and filed an Amicus Brief in support of federal court action taken in response to Gov. Baker’s decision to close gun shops in Massachusetts. Governor Baker’s administration has used the COVID-19 pandemic as a means to brazenly threaten our Second Amendment rights by failing to designate gun shops as “Essential Businesses.”
Today, U.S. Judge Douglas P. Woodlock issued a preliminary injunction to prevent Massachusetts from enforcing the unlawful order. “We don't surrender our constitutional rights. These plaintiffs have constitutional rights that deserve respect and vindication, and it becomes necessary for a court to do that rather than the executive when the executive declines," said Judge Woodlock.
Judge Woodlock held that Gov. Baker and his administration likely placed an improper burden on the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Massachusetts by forcing gun shops to close. He ruled that the State must allow gun shops to re-open by noon on Saturday, May 9, 2020, with certain guidelines that will be included in the written order to follow.
This is breaking and developing news, and as more details become available, we will update NRA members further.